[Goatsie]

So I'm going to have my first track day next week and I thought that it would be a great idea if experienced riders could somehow share good and proper techniques that they've learned. Dissemination of information benefits everyone while providing safe racing guidelines. What do you guys think?

Perhaps a Q and A for this thread is what I'm after, so to commence, what is the significance of having the knee out? What is the proper way to execute such technique? Should your knee touch the apex? In principal, how to get around the track the fastest?

[CBRVFR]

Rule #1.

A Trackday is NOT a race. You don't win anything, but you could break your bike or your neck riding over your head. Or someone else's.

Rule #2

Ride your own ride. If this is your first trackday, you'll be slower than a lot of people. Ignore them. Just be smooth, and consistent. You'll have to think about lines, braking points, gear selection, and avoiding panic reactions.

Best thing to do is to ask for help from an articulate and experienced control rider.

Have fun, and be careful. You'll want to do this a lot. You'll get much faster later.

[jamilrahman]

Im pretty new to trackdays myself, but one thing i've learned at the expense of others is to leave your ego at home, and come prepared to learn.

I drew a huge track map on a piece of cardboard and hung it on the inside of my trailer. After every session, i like to mark refrence points and jot down notes on what i discover on that particular session. Oh and a lap timer is by far my best investment so far.

[Goatsie]

Both of these suggestions are excellent, perhaps we could get more on technical terms. I guess what I'm really saying is I don't want to pay for advance rider classes and would rather have you guys, those experienced, to give pointers and I can go to the track (relatively inexpensive- 25/full day) and try them out. I'd eventually take lessons, but as a poor college student, it just isnt' feasible right now financially.

That said, thanks for the tip, where do you keep the timer when you're riding? Is someone timing you? I'll probably be going solo for a little while, so I won't have a protege to time me. I do however have a digital watch with timing capabilities. ;-)

[HondaGalToo]

I'd skip the lap timer for your first season. Your focus should be on smoothness and technique, not speed. Going out and just trying to beat your last lap time can get you into trouble. It's hard to describe how to do trackriding through posts on the internet. Two good books I'd recommend are Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienetsch and Total Control by Lee Parks.
I'd also rethink an "open trackday" for your first outing. Instead, I'd try to find an organization that offers some instruction in the Novice group. Most track day organizers like STT, NESBA, Team Promotion, offer instruction. At the very least, find a day that will at minimum have riders there to show you the correct line around the track. If you just go out riding around by yourself not knowing what the line is or how to choose it, you may not learn as much. A much better plan would be to either get instruction or follow around an experienced rider.

[seamus]

Originally Posted by Goatsie

Both of these suggestions are excellent, perhaps we could get more on technical terms. I guess what I'm really saying is I don't want to pay for advance rider classes and would rather have you guys, those experienced, to give pointers and I can go to the track (relatively inexpensive- 25/full day) and try them out. I'd eventually take lessons, but as a poor college student, it just isnt' feasible right now financially.

That said, thanks for the tip, where do you keep the timer when you're riding? Is someone timing you? I'll probably be going solo for a little while, so I won't have a protege to time me. I do however have a digital watch with timing capabilities. ;-)

If you're jacking around trying to push buttons on anything on your first trackday, you'll find yourself in the ambulance.

Unfortunately for your college budget, the best and safest way to make trackdays fun and productive is to take a race school first. It's really difficult to put into words all of the things that will keep you out of trouble. Going fast safely isn't a words event, it's a demonstrate, practice and evaluate event.

Outside of the above, your best bet will be to try to link up with an experienced rider at the trackday and pick his/her brain. Pick a topic, ask about proper technique, then concentrate on and practice that one topic.

[phobiaphobe]

Here's a piece of advice that I recieved from an instructor yesterday (and applied to great effect) after he followed me around for a few laps:

Slow down to speed up. Go about 80% as fast as you think you're capable of, and just concentrate on being smooth. Smooth brake and throttle application, smooth body weight transition, smooth smooth smooth. It worked. I stopped trying to brake hard and deep for T1, and instead worked on rolling off the throttle, easing into the brake and smoothly transitioning into the turn.

Biggest piece of advice I can offer (being a track newb myself) is this:

Relax. Free your mind of all the little daily distractions and frustrations, concentrate on the ride, relax and have fun.

[BDA116]

Exactly. It is your first trackday, DO NOT TIME YOURSELF. Your times don't mean jack ****. Slow down, concentrate on smoothness and comfort. Have one of the local fast track guys follow you for a bit and listen. Ask questions while you are there and listen.
Don't worry about lap times or how fast you are/think you are/are not. They don't matter one iota. Be smooth, be smart, try new lines.

[DevilDawg]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Here's a piece of advice that I recieved from an instructor yesterday (and applied to great effect) after he followed me around for a few laps:

Slow down to speed up. Go about 80% as fast as you think you're capable of, and just concentrate on being smooth. Smooth brake and throttle application, smooth body weight transition, smooth smooth smooth. It worked. I stopped trying to brake hard and deep for T1, and instead worked on rolling off the throttle, easing into the brake and smoothly transitioning into the turn.

Biggest piece of advice I can offer (being a track newb myself) is this:

Relax. Free your mind of all the little daily distractions and frustrations, concentrate on the ride, relax and have fun.

Well said.

[KF810]

Be smooth...your throttle/brakes are not an on/off lever!! DO NOT have a death grip on the bars...keep your elbows bent under braking...DO NOT mash your balls against the tank, use your knees (your inner legs will be sore the day after). Dont worry about hittin your knee on the deck, that will come with time and confidence. Make body changes before you tip in a corner, have yourself set up before you brake.
I would advise reading books. Sport Riding Technique by Nick Ienatsch is a good one, IMO. Be Safe and have fun!!!!

[KF810]

HondaGal...most open track days are racers practicing for an upcoming race...definitely not the greatest first track experience.

[Repeater]

Ask some local track riders what trackday providers are good in your area. There are good, safe, and fun orginizations, and then there are those that will put you off to trackdays. I have done five in the last few months and found that there is a big diffence. I was pissed all day at 2 of them. I also prefer the L1 and L2 verses the A/B/C format. I do twice the miles on the L1/ L2 format with safe inside passing. I found strict rules to pass on the outside can be more dangerous than allowing a safe inside pass.

Oh hand the moto gods your credit card now. I am a confirmed junkie!

[Scout]

Goatsie- I Have Never Ridden Track

Now, with that caveat, if I were you I would take a school 1st. If I were me I would take a school 1st, and I can say I've ridden off and on for a couple decades.

I don't think anything would help you more. The difference is, what may work for some (technique wise) may not work for you. A school (like Schwantz), offering individual instruction, could help you by leaps and bounds, and you'd have a leg up on other trackday novices.

Be safe, and have fun.

[nedro]

Who is running the track day you are going to attend?

[Baketech]

I probably did about a dozen trackdays before I ever timed a lap....

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by Baketech

I probably did about a dozen trackdays before I ever timed a lap....

Don't have mine yet, but I think that's the single piece of equipment that's gonna put me in the weeds.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by Baketech

I probably did about a dozen trackdays before I ever timed a lap....

don't do it, it doesn't mean anything any way.


Goatsie,
Is this an organized track day through a group, or something some local guys put together?a

Definitely avoid the racer and racer-wannabee days as these are a mess and will just frustrate you, and can be dangerous if you don't know where you are going ... and anyone new to the track won't know where they are going out there.

If it is a small group, get with someone to coach you and lead you around. Most events I've been to there are people who would love to share what they know and help some one enter the sport safely. The couple private days my old race team put together had new riders and we all helped them learn and get comfortable.

And as others have said, go slower. If you feel rushed and things are going to fast, then slow down a notch and get your mind focused. Going slow is the fastest way to getting fast ... and the least painful.

Good luck.

[Baketech]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Don't have mine yet, but I think that's the single piece of equipment that's gonna put me in the weeds.

Mine has never caused a problem because I have never chased a number...it's just fun feedback, like looking at any other instrumentation on the bike...

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by Baketech

Mine has never caused a problem because I have never chased a number...it's just fun feedback, like looking at any other instrumentation on the bike...

I seldom if ever look at it on the track (if you do tape over it). It is fun for bench racing and self comparison after sessions and events.

[Purpdust]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Relax. Free your mind of all the little daily distractions and frustrations, concentrate on the ride, relax and have fun.

The is a big one believe me, if your mind is not 100% on the task
then don't do it.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I seldom if ever look at it on the track (if you do tape over it). It is fun for bench racing and self comparison after sessions and events.

And the idea is to track consistency. Until you are consistent, you are not able to go faster ... repeatably.

[CBRVFR]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I seldom if ever look at it on the track (if you do tape over it). It is fun for bench racing and self comparison after sessions and events.

I'd have to think the benchracing possibilities would be unduly constrained if there were an actual lap time to be reported.. Much more fun to "estimate" based on the timers of others..